NFL 2019: Luck's retirement creates opening in AFC South

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2019, file photo, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to pass during a preseason NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia. The Titans are paying Mariota $20.9 million, and the No. 2 draft pick overall in 2015 will have to earn his next contract. He has yet to play a full 16-game season in the NFL and missed three starts last season, including the regular season finale with a playoff berth on the line for the winner. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

"I'm in pain, I'm still in pain. It's been four years of this pain, rehab cycle," Luck said. "It's a myriad of issues — calf strain, posterior ankle impingement, high ankle sprain. Part of my journey going forward will be figuring out how to feel better."

The endless barrage of injuries stripped away his joy for the game and prompted him to walk away so he could enjoy the life he wants.

"There's no doubt when you hear him talk about the cycle of pain and injury and rehab, you can hear that," coach Frank Reich said. "There's a saying in football that everyone knows and everybody lives by: it's next man up. And even though this situation is unique, no one is exempt."

That task now falls to Jacoby Brissett, a fourth-year player whom the Colts acquired two years ago. He went 4-11 as a starter in the 2017 season, and the Colts signed Brissett to a two-year contract extension Monday, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.

Defending AFC South champ Houston has Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins along with J.J. Watt back healthy and in his prime.

The Titans lost their playoff spot to the Colts in the regular-season finale with Marcus Mariota out, and they protected themselves by upgrading their backup spot.

Even Jacksonville has high hopes with Nick Foles now at quarterback; the Jags are coming off a miserable 5-11 season after playing in the AFC championship game in 2017.

All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard led the league in tackles as a rookie, and a secondary that has long been a weakness now appears to be a strength. Both Nelson and Leonard achieved such status as rookies.

DEFENDING CHAMPS

The Texans are without a general manager while coach Bill O'Brien works to improve an 11-6 record and find a way to win in the postseason after Indianapolis beat Houston on its own field. O'Brien gambled after the preseason ended, trading away two first-round picks to Miami for a package led by left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

That was after signing veteran Matt Kalil and drafting Tytus Howard in the first round didn't seem a good enough fix to protect Watson after allowing the most sacks in the NFL last season (62).

Tennessee has surrounded Mariota with the most offensive talent he has had since being drafted No. 2 overall in 2015, but the Titans are letting him earn a contract extension after missing three starts in 2018.

Mariota is among at least 13 Titans , including six starters, in the final year of their deals. They also have coordinator Dean Pees back for a second season with a unit that was the NFL's third-stingiest scoring defense.

FOLES TO RESCUE

The Jaguars believe signing the MVP of the 2018 Super Bowl is the key to fixing a team that finished last in the AFC South for the second time in three years — most recently just months after playing for the AFC championship. They gave Foles a four-year, $88 million contract with $50.125 million guaranteed and paired him with former Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo as his coordinator.

If they get the quarterback who won four playoff games for Philadelphia over the past two seasons, that could be enough to revive the Jaguars with their strong defense.

They also need running back Leonard Fournette to return to form in a make-or-break season, and left tackle Cam Robinson to heal up quickly after starting camp on the physically unable to perform list.